Monday, February 10, 2014


Today’s post is how to say happy birthday in Portuguese and some birthday and celebration vocabulary!!

So here are a few key words when it comes to aniversários!

The first thing that gets students confused is the word for birthday in Portuguese
  • aniversário
It sounds like "anniversary", but it is not always so. If someone asks when your aniversário is, they are asking about your birthday.

You can greet your birthday friends in two ways:
  • Feliz aniversário - happy birthday
  • Parabéns - Congratulations --- Yeah, we congratulate people for their special day. I love this :)
Now you might be wondering what to say when you want to ask about an anniversary. In this case, we would need to specify what the event is. For example:
  • aniversário de casamento = wedding anniversary

FestaParty or celebration
Soprar VelasTo blow out candles
Bolo Cake

Docinhos Sweets usually served at kids’ birthday parties
Balão Balloons


Asking someone's age
The question about someone's age is totally different in English and in Portuguese:
  • Quantos anos você tem? - How old are you?
Literally, our question is "How many years do you have?"

Here is how you answer:
  • Eu tenho 25 anos - I am 25 years old
Literally, that translates to "I have 25 years".

Useful Phrases
Here are a few useful phrases for you:
  • Quando é seu aniversário? -When is your birthday?
  • Meu aniversário é em Setembro.  - My birthday is in September.
  • Meu aniversário é no dia 18 de Setembro. - My birthday is on September 18th.
  • Mariana vai fazer 14 anos. - Mariana is going turn 14 years old.
  • Seu aniversário está perto. - Your birthday is close.
  • Você gosta de comemorar seu aniversário? - Do you like to celebrate your birthday?
  • Você vai fazer festa? - Are you going to throw a party?
  • Qual  é seu signo? - What is your star sign?

Brazilian birthday song
Brazilian/Portuguese Happy Birthday song has a lot of energy. It is clearly a festive and joyful event. We sing loud, clap our hands, yell, and whistle... that's right, we make noise :)
Here is our Happy Birthday song:

Português
Inglês
Parabéns pra você
Congratulations to you
Nesta data querida
On this dear date
Muitas felicidades
Much happiness
Muitos anos de vida
Many years of life
Para a menina Marcela
For the girl Marcela
Uma salve de palmas
A round of applause

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